Keiki in the Kitchen: Rise & Shine

Keiki in the Kitchen: Rise & Shine

Chrissie Kaila Castillo loves breakfast. And the tens of thousands of customers at Café Kaila couldn't be more thankful. The popular restaurant draws crowds of locals and tourists seven days a week to order her award-winning, made-from-scratch pancakes, waffles, French toast and more at Café Kaila at Market City Shopping Center on O‘ahu and Café Kaila restaurants in Japan.

It's something Castillo only dreamed of as a student at the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa. While taking an entrepreneurial course, she wrote a thesis on how to run a café. A few months later, after a chance encounter with the owner of a Waikiki bar, she began serving breakfast at his business during the day. She cooked up waffles, pancakes and French toast on her own plug-in griddle and George Foreman grill until the Health Department shut her down.

In 2007, armed with all she learned about permits, commercial kitchens and health codes, Castillo quietly opened Café Kaila. Ten years later, she still has a hand in every recipe served on the menu.

“I created the recipes from trial and error,” Castillo says, “I probably could have Googled it but I was hell bent to figure out the best recipes myself. … I made my poor mom and roommates taste sample after sample.”

Photo: Karen DB Photography

Keiki in the Kitchen Rise and Shine

The result is a repertoire of dozens of yummy breakfast treats. Café Kaila offers a different waffle special every week, including liliko‘i orange, pineapple-upside-down waffle and maple bacon blueberry. As for pancakes, macadamia nut haupia are always in demand and some customers still ask about the oatmeal cookie version.

For many busy families, these are breakfasts they only dream about while facing their daily toast, instant oatmeal or cereal. But Castillo says you can whip up a fast morning meal if you plan early.

“Prep things ahead, on weekends, as a fun project with the kids,” Castillo says. Then you can reheat during the week and top with fresh fruit or fun spreads. Castillo suggests turning frozen waffles into breakfast sandwiches by adding some meat, cheese and vegetables. Make a marinara sauce for English muffin pizzas, then add a touch of cream and butter and serve up the tomato soup for dinner. Castillo and Café Kaila consultant Jason Takemura gave us three recipes sure to please even the pickiest eaters in the family.

But, if only Café Kaila will do, here is a tip from the owner. Get there when the restaurant opens at 7 a.m. to avoid waiting. The line starts forming around 7:30 a.m. and it stays busy through lunch time.